Having a few drinks with your friends can be a good way to enjoy an evening together. However, you can have too much of a good thing. Finding yourself more intoxicated than you expected can be a dangerous and frightening situation. Thankfully there are some things you can do to keep yourself under control and work to sober up.

Steps

Method1

Planning Ahead

1

Plan your evening out. If you are planning on going out with some friends for a few drinks, try making a plan for the evening. Having a plan can help you stay safe and give you something to focus on if you become too inebriated. Both you and your friends should know what your plan for the night is to make sure everyone has a safe and fun time together.[1][2]

Knowing where you are going and when can give you structure and something to focus on if you've had a few too many drinks.

Planning a safe way home is important if you plan on having any amount of alcohol.

2

Eat before drinking. The best way to maintain focus while drinking is to avoid drinking more than you can handle. Eating before drinking can be a good way to help you stick to a safe level of alcohol consumption. Try eating a full meal before having anything to drink to avoid being surprised by how strongly alcohol affects you.[3]

Meals can slow down how quickly your body absorbs alcohol, allowing you to get a better sense of how drunk you feel.

After a meal, you should feel full. Feeling full can help prevent you from drinking more than you would on an empty stomach.

When drinking, it's a good idea to continue eating as well.

3

Drink with friends. Meeting friends for a few drinks can be a fun way to spend an evening together. Drinking with trusted friends can also help you maintain focus and stay safe, even if you drink more than you can safely handle. Your friends can help keep you in control and focused, even if you aren't able to do so yourself. Always drink with friends who are willing to watch out for your well-being.[4][5]

One person should decide to stay sober. This person should be able to drive or take care of someone if they drink too much.

Keep an eye on your friends when drinking together. Don't let your friends drink too much if you notice them becoming dangerously intoxicated.

Never let a friend drive drunk.

4

Drink water. Plan on drinking water in between your alcoholic beverages. Drinking water will help you to stay hydrated, slow down your alcohol consumption, and cause you to feel full. Consider skipping every other round or having a glass of water for every alcoholic drink you consume in order to stay safe and focused.[6][7]

Method2

Regaining Focus

1

Focus on your breathing. If you find yourself unable to focus while drinking, it can be helpful to return your attention to your breathing. Using your breath as a focus point has been shown to help you return to the present moment and situation. Although you will still be inebriated, paying attention to your breath can give you something to focus on and a moment to catch your thoughts.[8]

2

Concentrate on your senses. If you've had a large amount of alcohol, it can be easy to lose track of yourself and your surroundings. If you need something to focus on, paying attention to your senses can be a good idea. By bringing your attention to the sounds, sights, or even something like how warm or cold you feel can give you something to focus on.[9]

3

Pay attention to those around you. If you're too drunk and are having difficulty maintaining focus on your surroundings, try talking with a friend. Tell them you are too drunk and need help. Your friend will help you to stay safe and give you something to focus on, giving you some level of control over your situation.[10]

Talk with your friends. Engaging in a conversation can help you stay focused.

If you need help, don't be afraid to ask your friends.

Method3

Sobering Up

1

Stop drinking. The most important step in sobering up after drinking is to stop drinking. The moment you feel like you've had enough, or too much, stop drinking anything with alcohol in it. This will allow your body to process what you've already consumed and start the process of sobering up.

Don't try to taper off your drinking or switch to less alcoholic drinks. Stop entirely if you are too drunk.

Don't let anyone pressure you into drinking more than you are comfortable with.

2

Don't avoid vomiting. If you feel like you need to vomit, don't fight the urge. Throwing up is your body's natural response to alcohol poisoning. Vomiting can also help remove whatever alcohol is left unprocessed in your stomach and can help you to recover more quickly. If you feel the urge to vomit, allow yourself to do so.[11]

3

Eat something. If you are able to do so, eating something after heavy drinking can help you to sober up. Eating while drinking is always a good idea and can help your body process the alcohol at a slower pace. Having a meal or something to eat will help keep your head a bit more clear than if you had gone without eating.[12]

It's unclear which foods are best. Try eating whatever you are in the mood for.

Eating anything at all will help you to sober up faster.

4

Drink water. Drinking water after drinking alcohol can help lessen the inebriating effects of alcohol and help you to sober up. Drinking more water will have an effect on how much alcohol is present in your bloodstream and may help you to process alcohol faster by increasing the amount you urinate. Never neglect drinking water when you are trying to sober up.[13]

It's a good idea to try and drink a glass of water for every alcoholic drink you consume.

Alcohol has a dehydrating effect on the body. Drinking water will help you stay hydrated.

5

Start moving. Moving can help give you something to focus on and help you process the alcohol slightly faster than normal. By getting in some physical activity, you will increase the amount you are perspiring, which can remove some alcohol from your system. Try to do some simple exercise or activity that keeps you moving in order to stay focused and sober up.[14]

You might try dancing to help you sober up.

Going for a brisk walk can help you stay focused while you sober up.

6

Wait. There isn't a surefire way to sober up faster than your body is able to process the alcohol you've consumed. The only proven way to sober up is to wait for your body to fully remove the alcohol from your bloodstream. Although you can take steps to help the process, you will still need to wait around one hour for every drink you've had before you reach sobriety again.[15]